Double post.  Sorry.

After what, 5 days(?), I'd put it in the 7-8 range.  

For me there's a bonus in there for being "different" and "refreshing" in that its not a retread of the class-based medieval fantasy MMO many of us have played for years.  IMO the positivity from the differentness will wear off in a few weeks after people have blasted their 5 millionth zombie/mummy/vampire spawn/whatever, but I won't ever take the fact that they pulled off a credible modern fantasy away from Funcom.

Getting to experience a bit greater than the typical variety of quests and being reminded that there's more that can be done than just having players grab a bunch of quests at a hub that ask you to kill 10 monsters is one of the major positives IMO.

Combat is a pretty basic resource system that probably won't appeal as much to the crowd that wants a more skill-oriented approach, but it plays out better on the theoretical level IMO.  The min/max theorycrafter crowd should have a deal of fun with it.

Biggest turn-offs for me have been the character creation (I'm more likely to play a game in the long term if I'm happy with my character's name, appearance, abilities, etc., and I don't think I'm alone in that respect), the itemization of the cash shop (they give you some reasonable stuff to purchase from in-game stores with credits, but then the piece(s) you really want to complete a simple outfit, a dress shirt and tie to go with a suit jacket and pants for example, are often cash shop items of course), chat system (not as customizable as I would like), and the hundreds of snobs who put everyone down who asks for any kind of help because it demonstrates their supposed intellectual superiority.  Without a doubt TSW sports the biggest collection of insufferable pseudo-intellectual poseurs outside of Boston.  =P

For me personally the game has a really high fun factor "out of the box," but IMO it doesn't necessarily emphasize the competitive aspects of gameplay that a lot of players enjoy.  Your character's build and gear that synergizes with it is arguably even more important than your ability to use it compared to other MMOs.  That will turn off many players that hang out in places like this.

when I get some time Ill try to write a decent first review but overall I'd give it a 7.5/10 right now.. But numbers don't mean much at all unless you have something to base that number on. So ill give you my numbers for the last couple MMOs I have played if I were to rate them at a WEEK into playing(NOT my final score)

Rift - 7/10

SWTOR- 6/10

TERA- 5/10

Using the rating on this site. Rift is 7.3 and EVE is 9.1. So, i'd say it deserves easily between 7.5-8.5. Possibly 8, but the bad animations, CC, meh combat and Fusang put it down. Still, i give the biggest credit for not copying WOW an using an actually original mechanic like the Investigation Missions, which as never been done before and not just an old concept re-used.

Originally posted by stayBlind

I'd say 4/10. 

Dismissing my bias against any game that rolls damage for guns, I'd say that the story/idea were great. Sadly, the translation of the story/idea into gameplay was not to my liking.

And the difference in rolling for damage between guns and swords is??????????

I playxed Beta.... The first 15 minutes were so ugly i uninstalled after 1 hour.... The character creation is so poor it is frustrating. The characters look like crap!!! No fun at all! Games like this have no right to exist in the MMO market!

My rating: 2/10

Originally posted by Lonzo

I playxed Beta.... The first 15 minutes were so ugly i uninstalled after 1 hour.... The character creation is so poor it is frustrating. The characters look like crap!!! No fun at all! Games like this have no right to exist in the MMO market!

 

My rating: 2/10

That's like watching the first minute of The Dark Knight and saying the whole film is trash based on not liking that first minute. You must really get shafted on cinema tickets if you take the same approach.

no. if a company can not make a decent character creation they failed.... easy as that! and they will fail!

Originally posted by Lonzo

I playxed Beta.... The first 15 minutes were so ugly i uninstalled after 1 hour.... The character creation is so poor it is frustrating. The characters look like crap!!! No fun at all! Games like this have no right to exist in the MMO market!

 

My rating: 2/10

 Pretty shallow

Cryptic fan are we?

My rating would put it at about 8.5 because of the atmosphere and the missions/puzzles plus the sound is really good.I'm not really a pvper and the animations are fine for me.

Comparing to other games I play or played recently.

Rift I put at 8.5 also because af the features it has and the festival/carnival type things and the ongoing invasions and rift's.On the other hand Rift doesn't have the atmosphere,the missions/quest's aren't as good,so they are pretty even to me.

Lotro I put at a solid 8.2 again because of features the setting/world graphic,festivals,nice quest's,skirmish's,sound.The character looks are meh.The housing is there but it's pretty constrained with what you can do with it.

SWtor a 6.5 I'll be brief,they swung for the fences and imo ended up a popup to 2nd base,fell well short of expectations for me.

So 8.5 for me and one of my two top rated and in my three favorites.I won't put WoW in the mix as I just find it really hard to go back to it.

Originally posted by Vutar

I'd rate it a 7.0  becuase combat is terrible and there is very little replay value. It plays largely like a single player game. The quests are for the most part fun but unless Funcom is planning on releasing content fairly quickly and consistently I do not see the game retaining a large player base.  I just do not see anything about it that will keep a large number of people playing for an extended period of time.

 

The description/evaluation you give sounds more like a 3/10 than 7/10.

TSW wasnt that great. I played for a couple days then just quit. waste of money. Nothing really "stood out" to me. I mean there were some improvements from past mmo's, but nothing to "wow" me.

Right now I would rate this game between 8.25-8.5 for me.  In the future it has the potenital to go to a 9 depending on the direction this game goes.

This is a hard game to rate because I could see how it would not appeal to some people.   When some people have posted their concerns and what they expect/want out of a good game,  I understand how this game woldn't fit the bill for them.  While I personally am enjoying my experience in game, I do understand this game is not for everyone.

I just reviewed it and it came out as 8.9.

I dropped points for chat issues, some quest bugs and lip synching in cut scenes. However, the atmosphere, story and quests are the best in any MMO I've played and the launch was extremely smooth.

Firstly I should state that I am a long time lurker, and been playing MMOS since vanilla EQ.

I would rate TSW a solid 8, and for the purchase price it represents good value for money. 

What actually prompted me to post though were the various comments with regards to its replay value. It is true that it is very story driven and that it may not represent great replay value, but, the way the game is designed there is no need to reroll, or play an alt (you simply buy your existing character some new skills and abilities with exp).

With this in mind I believe that the lack or replay value is a non-issue, the end game however, and its longevity, remains to be tested.

I am enjoying the game, and the min / maxers will love the skill wheel, my only reservation is how it will play out in the long run.

In conclusion, right now TSW represent great value for money, and it's a ton of fun :)

Nuf.

8.3?

How about really good gaming fun?

Social systems - 6 /10

Flawed chat system and annoyances with friends list/ cabal, intermittent disconnection from social server causing you to see no chats. Rare, but annoying.

Dungeon design - 10 /10

Simply perfect. As seeped in story as the rest of the game, very little trash, interesting encounters, beautiful scenery.

Ability system and combat mechanics - 9.5 /10

Complex as it gets in MMOs. Just because of metagame alone. Tanks might one day stack defence in PvP with Riposte (whenever you are glanced you deal damage back) but then any clever DPS can counter that by stacking crit (instead of penetration like most do) - this doesn't just apply to stats, but all the skills in the game as well. Combat flows really well thanks to the (correct) design decision of unhinging upper and lower body to allow full freedom of movement in combat when casting anything. Some animations may look stiff but that is a more than acceptable compromise for a higher skill cap.

Graphics - 9.7 /10

To me, scenery and monsters are more important than character models, and I was still able to create a fantastic looking character in the current creator. No complaints other than lack of anti-aliasing on most foliage.

Story and missions - 10 /10 

Speechless. To keep this spoiler free I won't say anything else, but the game completely changes tone after New England (Kingsmouth, Savage Coast, Blue Mountain - Dawning of an Endless Night) and the story opens up to show it's true masterful face. Personally the best writing I have ever witnessed in gaming. (That's right, not just in MMOs.)

Audio and voice acting - 9 /10

Very few disconcerting voice actors, ironically most of which are found in Kingsmouth, the area which is supposed to "sell" the game. Music and ambience is top notch, while some weapons have a smidge lackluster attack sounds.

UI and systems - 8 /10

Nothing too special. Customization is on the lacking side, but at least the initial product is serviceable and very clean looking.

Progression pacing - 9.8 /10

Theme park that can be played like a semi-sandbox. Faction special assignments always seem to have perfect timing for me, and I usually end up losing track of time because of what's around the next corner.

RPG elements - 10 /10 (got to love an MMO with choices <deeper in main story>)

Not gonna spoil this. Play it.

Overall: 9.6 /10

For me the best MMORPG of all time. Can't really think of a single game with more depth, beauty, immersion factor, wholesom design and spectacular writing between Meridian 59 and now.

My quick rating would be a 7.5.  This is a very good score by my standard.  It's a good MMO and better than anything released currently (from what I've seen so far is GW2 will probably trump it).  It does exceptional on many aspects however it falls short on combat (the way the skill system was designed with way too specific passives and resource builders and consumers) and various QA testing (many bugged quests, many quests that don't work well, quests in groups sometimes don't reward both party members) as is typical of a Funcom game.  I'd also have to hack off a bit of a point for how often it throws you into solo instances which can be frustrating if you are trying to play through the game as a group.  Character creation needs a lot of work too and the item shop at release along with a sub isn't a good thing either.

Among things it does right:  Dungeons are extremely well designed (wished the combat was amazing to go with it), atmosphere, story, dialogue, investigation missions (when they work properly), being difficult sometimes even unforgiving to stupid people, a few other non-standard mission types, mature content, and level design.

Was planning a more detailed review when I'm doing endgame content (though we are about to finish up Egypt and start elite dungeons soon).

I have played beta and currrently having fun in Live. I thought i´d give a casuals aspect of it.

Combat: Abit repetitive but more engaging than a usual tab-target game. It shines alot more in group combat then solo combat where you mash the same old buttons over and over.

Skillsystem: Now the game has these 500+ skills but in all honesty there are only 9 weapons but with this in mind you can choose your playstyle and change it on the fly which I must say is a big bonus.

Graphics: Solid, Funcom have created a nice atmosphere within the game so no complaints here. I don´t feel the animations are that awkward as people say but I guess that´s a matter of opinion.

Questsystem: Absolutely freaking brilliant. The stories created are vibrant and pulls you in the game.

Bugs: I have stumbled upon 8 roken quests so far, 3 in starter area and 4 in the next area. Given that there are alot of quests this doesn´t bother me too much and i´m sure they´ll fix these soon.

Overall impression: I must say I had in my mind a different picture of the games skillsystem and hoped it would allow for more diversity with all these skill choices avalible, but all in all this is a good game that I do expekt to be subbed for for about 6-12 months and i´m perfectly happy with that.

Score: 7 out of 10, with more diversity it could go up to an 8.5